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Effect of trihalomethanes (chloroform and bromoform) on human haematological count

AsnaLodhi, ImranHashmi, HabibNasir, RomanaKhan

Available Online 1 February 2017, wh2017207; DOI:10.2166/wh.2017.207

Asna Lodhi

Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), H-12 Sector, Islamabad, Pakistan E-mail: imranhashmi@iese.nust.edu.pk

Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), H-12 Sector, Islamabad, Pakistan E-mail: imranhashmi@iese.nust.edu.pk

Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), H-12 Sector, Islamabad, Pakistan E-mail: imranhashmi@iese.nust.edu.pk

Abstract

With the increasing concerns about the harmful effects of disinfection products the process of chlorination is becoming questionable. Bromoform and chloroform are among the most frequently occurring disinfection by-products. Haematological parameters are an important indicator of human well-being which is why the prime objective of the current study was to conduct a dose–response assessment to investigate the effects of trihalomethanes on human haematological count. Blood samples of healthy subjects were exposed to different concentrations (10, 30 and 50 μg/mL) of chloroform and bromoform in vitro to analyse how these compounds affected the haematological count with increasing dose concentrations. Headspace gas chromatography analysis was also conducted on samples to assess the difference between measured and spiked values of doses. The results indicated that the damage caused by bromoform was statistically more significant as compared to chloroform. Haemoglobin (HGB) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration levels lowered as they were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by bromoform at all administered doses. It also significantly damaged platelet level at doses of 30 (p < 0.05) and 50 μg/mL (p < 0.01). Conversely, the damage caused by chloroform was statistically less significant (p > 0.05).